norway and the eu 2011

8/18/2019 Norway and the EU 2011

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norway and the eu- partners for europe

norway


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Cover: Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg (left) and President of the European

Council Herman Van Rompuy, 16 June 2010. Photo: The Council of the European Union.

- Moskenes, Lofoten. Photo: Kai Jensen/ Scanpix - Norway is providing funding for a cooperation

centre in the Carpathian region, Poland, Photo: Carpathian Foundation, Poland

Page 5: Colourbox 2008. Voss, Norway. Photo: Nils-Erik Bjørholt/ Innovation Norway, 2009

Page 23: The Mission of Norway to the EU. Photo: Rune Bjåstad


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1

1 Norway and the European Union 2

2 A historical overview of Norway-EU relations 6

3 The EEA Agreement 8

4 Norway’s participation in EU programmes and agencies 11

5 Justice and home aairs and the Schengen Agreement 13

6 Norway and the EU foreign and security policy 15

7 Norway-EU cooperation at political level 16

8 The EEA and Norway Grants 18

9 Other areas of cooperation 21

10 Mission of Norwa to the EU 23

11 More information about Norway 24

Contents


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FACTS ABOUT NORWAY

• Ocial name:

Kingdom of Norway

• System of government:

Constitutional monarchy,parliamentary democracy

• Population:

4 920 300 inhabitants as of

1 January 2011

• Capital:

Oslo (600 000 inhabitants in 2011)

• Total land area:

384 802 km2

• Currency: Norwegian krone, NOK

€ 1 = NOK 7.81

(April 2011)

• Gross Domestic Product:

NOK 2 505 076 million in 2010

• GDP per capita:

NOK 512 364 in 2010

Source: Statistics Norwa

2

Norwa’s culture and values are rml

rooted in the European tradition.

Norway’s political history, geographical

position and international trade, along

with Europeans’ travel patterns, create

innumerable bonds that link Norwegians

to the EU member states and their people.

Norway’s close ties to the EU are also a

result of political cooperation, primarily

through the EEA and Schengen Agree-

ments. Developments in EU cooperation

are aecting more and more aspects of

Norwegian society.

Along with Iceland and Liechtenstein,

Norway and the EU are partners in the

European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA

Agreement is the most far-reaching

economic agreement Norway has ever

entered into, and by far the single most

important agreement regulating the

relationship between Norway and the

European Union. The purpose of the

Agreement is to enlarge the EU internal

market so that it also includes the EEA

EFTA states. It does this by creating a

common European Economic Area (EEA)

uniting the 27 EU member states and the

three EEA EFTA states Norway, Iceland

and Liechtenstein.

1 Norway and the European Union

Norway and the EU enjoy good and close relations, although Norway is

not a member of the European Union. Norway has held two referendums

on the issue of EU membership, in 1972 and 1994. On both occasions,

a narrow majority of the Norwegian population rejected membership.

Norway has been a member of the European Free Trade Association

(EFTA) since its establishment in 1960.


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3

Norway also cooperates closely with the

EU in areas such as justice and home

aairs, foreign polic, climate change,

energy policy and research.

This brochure will show you to what

extent and within what areas Norway and

the EU cooperate. The scope and depth

of Norway’s relations with the EU may

surprise you.

Sleipner Oshore platform.

Photo: Statoil, 2006.


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4

• In 2011 Norway allocates 1% of its Gross

National Income (GNI) to international

development cooperation.

• In 2010 Norwa contributed € 230

million to the EU programme budget.

• From 2009 to 2014, Norway is providing

almost € 1.79 billion to eorts to reduce

social and economic disparities within

the EEA.

• Norway is the sixth largest oil exporter

and the second largest gas exporter in the

world.

• 24% of EU natural gas imports come

from Norway.

• 95% of Norwegian electricity comes

from renewable energy (hydro and

wind power).

• Norway is the world’s second largest

exporter of seafood.

• Norwa has the world’s fth largest

merchant eet.

• The Norwegian Pension Fund Global

owns 1% of the value of the world’s

equit markets.

• In 2011 Norway had 110 diplomatic

and consular missions.

Did you know that…

The Opera House in Oslo. Photo: Erik Berg/

The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, 2009.


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Norway’s foreign trade, by region and country, 2010

IMPORT EXPORT

NOK million % NOK million %

Total 464 653 100.0 794 425 100.0

Nordic countries 107 986 23.2 93 260 11.7

EU 294 565 63.4 641 335 80.7

Europe 318 050 68.4 661 507 83.3

Denmark 29 053 6.3 25 184 3.2

France 16 581 3.6 51 069 6.4

Germany 57 510 12.4 90 501 11.4

Sweden 65 480 14.1 55 734 7.0UK 27 330 5.9 212 213 26.7

Africa 7 892 1.7 8 016 1.0

Asia 84 976 18.3 59 422 7.5

North America 42 639 9.2 57 073 7.2

South America 10 257 2.2 6 775 0.9

Oceania 839 0.2 1 633 0.2

Source: Statistics Norwa

5


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The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is estab-lished b Norwa, Austria, Denmark, Portugal, Sweden,

Switzerland and the UK.

The EEA Agreement is signed between the EFTA

States and the EC.

Norwa, Sweden, Finland and Austria appl for

membership of the EU.

Switzerland votes no in a referendum on the EEA,

but remains a member of EFTA.

De Gaulle resigns and the four countries’ membership

applications are reactivated. Negotiations start in 1970. The UK, Denmark and Ireland join the EC.

Norwa, Ireland, the UK and Denmark appl twice to join

the European Economic Community (EEC), but the acces-

sion negotiations are suspended both times when French

President Charles de Gaulle vetoes the UK’s membership

application.

1960 1961–67 1969 1972 1973 1992

A majority of Norwegians (53.5%) vote against Euro-pean Community (EC) accession in a referendum.

6

2 A historical overview of Norway–EU relations


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The Schengen Convention enters into force for Norwa

and the other Nordic countries. All passport control

between Norwa and the Schengen countries is

abolished.

Sweden, Finland and Austria become members of

the EU.

Liechtenstein joins the EEA Agreement.

Romania and Bulgaria join the EU. The EEA is now

made up of 30 European countries.

The EU is enlarged with 10 new member states. The EEA

Enlargement Agreement establishes a European Eco-

nomic Area consisting of 25 EU member states and the

EEA EFTA states Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The EEA Agreement enters into force on 1 January 1994.

A majority of Norwegians (52.2%) rejects member-ship of the European Union (EU) in a referendum.

1994 1995 2001 2004 2007

7


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8

The European Economic Area

The European Economic Area unites the 27

EU member states and the three EEA EFTA

states (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein)

in an internal market governed b the same

basic rules. The aim of the EEA Agreement

is to promote trade and economic relations

between the 30 EEA states. It guarantees

free movement of goods, persons, services

and capital, as well as non-discrimination

and equal competition rules throughout the

European Economic Area.

Free movement of goods shall ensure that

products originating in an EEA state may

circulate freel within the internal market.

Customs duties and quantitative restrictions

on trade in such products are prohibited

within the EEA.

Through free movement of persons, all

EEA nationals have the right to work in an

other EEA state. Students, pensioners and

non-working persons also have the right to

reside in another EEA state.

The EEA Agreement gives individuals and

companies the freedom of establishment

and the right to provide services across

the EEA on equal terms. Information and

authorisation procedures are available

through the Point of Single Contact for

service providers at www.altinn.no.

The free movement of capital enables

cross-border investment by residents and

companies in the EEA, without discrimina-

tion based on nationality, place of residence

or place of establishment. Citizens and

companies have the right to transfer money

between EEA states, open bank accounts,

3 The EEA Agreement

The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) is the cornerstone

of relations between Norway and the European Union. The EEA extends

the internal market, with its four freedoms, to Norwa, Iceland and

Liechtenstein. In addition the agreement establishes a system that ensures

equal conditions of competition.


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Substantive decisions relating to the

EEA Agreement are a joint venture

between the EEA EFTA states and the

EU. Common bodies, such as the EEA

Council and the EEA Joint Committee

have been established to administer the

EEA Agreement.

Because the EEA EFTA states are not

members of the EU, they are constitu-

tionally not able to accept direct deci-

sions by the European Commission orthe Court of Justice of the European

Union. Separate EEA EFTA bodies have

therefore been set up to parallel these

EU bodies. This is called the two-pillar

structure.

The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA)

corresponds to the surveillance function

of the Commission and ensures that

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway

respect their obligations under the EEA

Agreement. It also ensures that companies

in these countries abide by the common

competition rules. The Authority can in-

vestigate possible infringements of EEA

provisions, either on its own initiative,

or on the basis of complaints. There is

close contact and cooperation between

the Commission and the Authority.

The EFTA Court corresponds to the

Court of Justice of the European Union

in matters relating to the EEA EFTA

states. The EFTA Court deals with

infringement actions brought by the

EFTA Surveillance Authorit against an

EEA EFTA state and handles disputes

between two or more EEA EFTA states.

The EEA institutions

9

invest in shares and funds or borrow money

in other EEA states.

A central principle of the EEA Agreement is

homogeneity , which means that the same

rules and conditions of competition shall

apply for all economic operators within the

EEA. To maintain homogeneity, the EEA

Agreement is continuously updated and

amended to ensure that EU internal market

legislation is implemented in national legis-

lation of the EEA EFTA states.

The EEA Agreement provides for cooperation

on “anking and horizontal issues” such as

research and development, education, social

policy, environment, consumer protection,

tourism and culture, and provides for par-

ticipation in various EU programmes.

The EEA Agreement does not cover the EU

common agriculture and sheries policies,

the customs union, the common trade policy,

the common foreign and security policy, jus-

tice and home aairs or the monetar union.


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This gure illustrates the management of the EEA Agreement. The left pillar shows the EFTA states and their institutions, while the right pillar shows the

EU side. The joint EEA bodies are in the middle.

*Switzerland is an observer

EEA COUNCIL

Ministers of the EU and

the EEA EFTA states

EU PRESIDENCy (TROIKA)

and

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EFTA PARLIAMENTARy

COMMITTEE*

EFTA Secretariat

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTEP Secretariat

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL

COMMITTEE (ECOSOC)

ECOSOC Secretariat

EEA JOINT PARLIAMENTARy

COMMITTEE*

MPs from EFTA

Parliaments and MEPs

EFTA CONSULTATIVE

COMMITTEE*

EFTA Secretariat

EEA CONSULTATIVE

COMMITTEE*

EFTA SURVEILLANCE

AUTHORITy

EFTA COURTCOURT OF JUSTICE

OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

THE STANDING COMMITTEE

OF THE EFTA STATES*

EFTA Secretariat

EEA JOINT COMMITTEE

European External Action Service,

European Commission and EEA EFTARepresentatives

EUROPEAN EXTERNAL ACTION

SERVICE (EEAS)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

ICELAND

LIECHTENSTEIN

NORWAy

10

The Two-Pillar EEA Structure


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11

The EU has also set up several decentra-

lised agencies to carry out technical, scient-

ic or administrative tasks related to the

internal market and the EU programmes.

Norway participates in a number of these

agencies through provisions in the EEA

Agreement or on the basis of bilateral

agreements with the EU.

When the EEA Joint Committee agrees to

incorporate programmes and agencies

into the EEA Agreement, Norway commits

to making a earl nancial contribution to

the relevant EU budget. EEA EFTA states

fund their participation in programmes and

agencies by an amount corresponding to

the relative size of their gross domestic

product (GDP) compared to the GDP of the

whole EEA. The EEA EFTA participation is

hence on an equal footing with EU member

states. In addition the EEA EFTA states

second several national experts to posts in

the European Commission. These posts

are 100% nanced b the EEA EFTA states.

The total EEA EFTA commitment amounts

to 2.4% of the overall EU programme

budget. In 2010 Norway’s contribution was

€ 210 million. This constitutes 97 % of the

total EEA EFTA contribution. Throughout

the programme period 2007-2013, the

Norwegian contribution will increase

substantially in parallel with the develop-

ment of the EU programme budget, from

€ 130 million in 2007 to 290 million in2013.

4 Norway’s participation in EU programmes

and agencies

The European Union has established programmes and activities to

strengthen cooperation outside the internal market and the four

freedoms. The programmes cover areas such as research, education,

social policy and culture. Through the EEA Agreement a wide range of

these programmes and activities are extended to Norway, Iceland and

Liechtenstein.


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EU AGENCIES WITH NORWEGIAN PARTICIPATION IN 2010

• Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)***• European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation

at the External Borders (FRONTEX)**

• European Agenc for Safet and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)

• European Aviation Safet Agenc (EASA)

• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

• European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP)

• European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

• European Defence Agency (EDA)*

• European Environment Agency (EEA)

• European Food Safet Authorit (EFSA)

• European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EUROFUND)

• European GNSS Supervisor Authorit

• European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

• European Maritime Safet Agenc (EMSA)

• European Medicines Agency (EMA)

• European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)*

• European Network and Information Securit Agenc (ENISA)

• European Police College*

• European Police Oce (EUROPOL)*• European Railway Agency (ERA)

• European Research Council Executive Agency (ERC)***

• European Union Satellite Centre (EUSC)*

• European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit (EUROJUST)*

• Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI)***

• Executive Agency for Health and Consumers (EAHC)***

• Research Executive Agency (REA)***

* Bilateral agreement between the EU and Norwa

** Norwa participates through Schengen membership

*** Norway participates through related programmes

EU PROGRAMMES WITH NORWEGIAN

PARTICIPATION IN 2010

• Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)

• Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP)

• The Competitiveness and Innovation

Programme (CIP)

• The Community Programme for

Emploment and Social Solidarit –

PROGRESS

• Daphne III - Combating Violence

• Drug prevention and information

• Health 2008–2013

• The Consumer Programme 2007–2013

• youth in Action

• Culture 2007

• MEDIA 2007

• Safer Internet Plus 2009–2013

• Interoperabilit Solutions for

EU Public Administrations (ISA)• Interreg

• Marco Polo II – Transport

• EU Statistical Programme

• The Civil Protection Financial

Mechanism 2007–2013

• Erasmus Mundus II

• Galileo Satellite Navigation Sstem

Programme

12


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13

Norwa joined the Schengen cooperation

in 2001, and applies the Schengen acquis

(the common set of Schengen rules) in

full. This means that Norway applies the

harmonised policies on visas and external

border control. Internal border control

between Norwa and the other Schengen

states has been abolished. To compensate

for this, the Schengen cooperation includes

parts of EU police cooperation, in which

Norway participates actively. Norway is

involved in the development of the Schen-

gen acquis at all levels of the EU Councildecision-making sstem and has the right

to speak, but not to vote. Those parts of

the EU’s Justice and Home Aairs Coun-

cil meetings in which Norway and other

non-EU states participate are described as

meetings of the Mixed Committee.

Norway participates in the European

Borders Agenc, Frontex, which aims to co-

ordinate the management of the common

external borders. Norway is represented in

the Management Board of Frontex.

In addition to the Schengen cooperation,Norway and the EU have entered into

agreements on cooperation in various

areas, including the following:

• The Dublin cooperation, which estab-

lishes the criteria and mechanisms for

determining which state is responsible

for examining an asylum application;

• The European Migration Network, which

contributes to policy development on

migration and asylum through exchange

of information, experience and best practice;

• Europol, the European Law Enforcement

Organisation, which aims at improving

cooperation between the competent

authorities in EU member states, and their

eectiveness in preventing and combating

terrorism, unlawful drug tracking and

other serious forms of international

organised crime. Two Norwegian liaison

ocers are posted to the organisation’sheadquarters in The Hague;

5 Justice and home affairs and

the Schengen Agreement

Norwa and the EU cooperate extensivel in the eld of justice

and home aairs, both through the Schengen Agreement and

through agreements in various areas that are not included in

the Schengen cooperation.


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14

• Eurojust, a cooperation network set up

to stimulate and help coordinate the

investigation and prosecution of serious

cross-border crime. A Norwegian public

prosecutor is currentl working for

Eurojust in The Hague;

• A surrender agreement based on the

principles of the European Arrest

Warrant*;

• An agreement on Mutual Legal

Assistance (exchange of information

between law-enforcement and prosecution

services)*;

• An agreement on the Prüm Treaty on

enhanced police cooperation in order to

combat terrorism and international crime*.

*Upon entry into force

Storskog border station, Norwegian-Russian border. Photo: Thomas Nilsen/BarentsObserver.com


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Norwa ghting pirates with frigate KNM Fridtjof

Nansen, as part of the EU naval operation ATALANTA

outside Somalia. Photo: EU NAVFOR

15

6 Norway and the EU foreign

and security policy

Norway’s foreign policy is largely based on the same values and priorities

as that of the EU and its member states – thus our positions are usuall

very similar. Norway cooperates closely with the EU on a wide range of

foreign policy issues.

On a daily basis Norway consults and

interacts with the EU Common Foreign

and Securit Polic (CFSP) in order to

safeguard common positions and make a

dierence in international aairs. Norwa

is engaged in a substantial policy dialogue

with the EU on foreign polic issues – pri-

marily with the European External Action

Service (EEAS) and the member states.

As part of the EEA Agreement, there are

foreign policy consultations twice a year

in the margins of EEA Council meetings.Together with the EFTA partners, Norway

is invited to consultations with the Council

working groups on topics of common

concern such as the Middle East, the

Balkans, Russia, the OSCE and the Council

of Europe. In addition, Norway is frequently

invited to align itself with foreign policy

statements by the EU, or with EU interven-

tions in international organisations.

Within the framework of the Common

Securit and Defence Polic (CSDP)

Norway has entered into a separate agree-

ment with the EU for participating in EUcivilian and military operations. Norway

has participated in several EU-led operations

in the Balkans, in Asia and in the Middle-

East. Norwa is also part of the Nordic Battle

Group under EU auspices. Furthermore,

Norway has signed an agreement which

permits Norwegian participation in the

activities of the European Defence Agency.


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16

The EEA Agreement introduced the EEA

Council to establish political priorities for

implementing and developing the Agree-

ment. The EEA Council meets twice a year

at ministerial level to assess the overall

functioning of the EEA Agreement and to

discuss matters of common concern such

as climate and energy, the Europe 2020

strategy, maritime policy and the Arctic.

Its Presidency alternates between the EU

and the EEA EFTA chair.

In connection with each EEA Council

meeting, a separate political dialogue

meeting is held to discuss foreign andsecurity policy issues.

The Schengen association agreement gives

Norwa the right to participate in the work

of the Council at political, senior ocial

and expert levels, although without the right

to vote when formal decisions are taken.

Through the Mixed Committee the Norwe-

gian Minister for Justice and the Police

takes part in the discussions when matters

relevant to Schengen are on the agenda.

In addition to the established structure

provided for by the EEA Agreement,

various bilateral high-level meetings take

place. The Prime Minister meets with the

President of the European Council, thePresident of the European Commission

7 Norway-EU cooperation

at political level

The EEA and Schengen Agreements provide platforms for close cooperation

at political level between Norway and the EU.

Top: Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg meets

with Herman Van Rompu, President of the European

Council, in Oslo, March 2011. Photo: Prime Minister’s

Oce.

Below: Norwegian Minister of the Environment and

International Development, Erik Solheim with

European Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie

Hedegaard. Photo: European Union.


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17

and the EU Presidency. The Minister of

Foreign Aairs meets regularl with the

High Representative of the Union for

Foreign Aairs and Securit Polic. The

members of the Government meet with

members of the Commission to discuss

issues of common interest.

Based on a long-standing tradition between

the EFTA states and the EU Presidency,

various Norwegian ministers are invited to

informal ministerial meetings and confer-ences arranged by the EU Presidency.

The Norwegian Minister of Defence is in-

vited to a political dialogue with the High

Representative of the Union for Foreign

Aairs and Securit Polic together with

ministers from the other European NATO

members that are not EU members and

countries that are candidates for EU

membership.

Norway is also invited to the European

Parliament to present Norwegian views on

topical issues, such as Norwegian involve-ment in the Middle East, the Arctic and

the High North, Norway’s energy policy or

gender equalit. Both the Foreign Minister

and other ministers have been invited.

Norwa also takes part in the Space Coun-

cil as a member of the European Space

Agency. The Norwegian Minister of Trade

and Industry is present when the Competi-

tiveness Council discusses matters relating

to the Agency.

The European Parliament in Brussels. Photo: Knut ØistadNorwegian Minister of Foreign Aairs, Jonas Gahr

Støre and Catherine Ashton, High Representative

of the Union for Foreign Aairs and Securit Polic.

Photo: European Union


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Beneciary state Amount

Poland 115.6

Hungar 30.7

Czech Republic 26.4

Romania 61.2

Slovakia 16.2

Lithuania 16.2

Latvia 14.6

Spain* 9.2

Bulgaria 25.3

Greece 12.7

Estonia 9.7

Portugal 11.6

Slovenia 5.4

Cyprus 7.9

Malta 0.9

Total 357.7

Norway’s share of the annual contribution

is 97%, i.e. € 347 million a year.

*Spain will receive transitional support in

the period 1 Ma 2009-31 December 2013

Annual Contributions 2009–2014(million €)

18

EEA members Norway, Iceland and Liech-

tenstein established the EEA and Norway

Grants in conjunction with the enlargement

of the European Union and the EEA in

2004. Norway has been providing funding

to reduce social and economic disparities

through various mechanisms since theEEA was rst established in 1994.

A total of € 1.79 billion is being made

available over this current ve-ear period

2009-2014, in addition to the € 1.30 billion

already provided under the 2004-2009

mechanism. Norway contributes around

97% of the pledged amount.

A wide range of public authorities and

institutions, organisations and businesses

can appl for funding. Support is granted

to applicants through programmes managed

at country level and is mainly made

available through open calls in the bene-

ciary states. Negotiations on priorities andprogrammes in the beneciar states for

the period 2009-2014 are ongoing. In this

period a programmatic approach has been

favoured to secure more strategic coope-

ration between relevant institutions in

Norwa and the beneciar countries.

8 The EEA and Norway Grants

Norway has committed almost € 1.79 billion to reduce social and economic

disparities within the EEA from 2009 to 2014. Priority areas include environ-

mental protection and climate change, conservation of cultural heritage,

decent work, justice and home aairs and strengthening civil societ. The

EEA and Norway Grants provide a unique opportunity to promote coopera-

tion and partnerships between Norwa and the fteen beneciar states1.

1 Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungar,

Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,Slovenia, Spain.


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Protection of the European cultural heritage is a

priority sector. Projects include the restoration of

historic buildings, religious monuments and castles.

Photo: Norwegian Ministr of Foreign Aairs

19

Focus areas

Protection of the environment and su-

stainable development are among the

priority sectors that receive most funding.

Thirty per cent of the funding in each

countr – a total of around € 450 million

– will be devoted to the sectors of environ-

mental protection and management,

climate change and renewable energy,

carbon capture and storage and green

industry innovation.

Strengthening civil societ and improving

the capacity of non-governmental organi-

sations (NGOs) are given special attention

under the EEA and Norway Grants. Aminimum of 10% of the funding in each

country will be devoted to areas such as

democracy-building, protection of human

rights and promotion of social inclusion.


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Upgrading border controls and enhanced police

cooperation are among projects supported under

the priorit sector implemention of Schengen

acquis and strenghtening the judiciar. Photo:

Emanuela and Dawid Tatarkiewiczowie/Odonata

The NGO funds support projects in areas such as

the environment, human rights and social integra-

tion. One project in the eastern part of the Czech

Republic is promoting tolerance between minority

groups and the rest of the population. Photo:Norwegian Ministr of Foreign Aairs

20

A new fund for decent work and social

dialogue will be established with a view to

promoting cooperation on labour policies

between workers, emploers and govern-

ment organisations. Strategies to achieve

decent working standards and initiativesto promote work-life balance at the work

place, as well as better health, safety and

environment standards are prioritised.

Gender equalit is often seen as a ke to

economic development and will be a hori-

zontal concern for all programmes.

Research, scholarships and human andsocial development are other focus areas

under the grants. Social inclusion pro-

grammes involve measures to enhance

public health services and tackle issues

such as povert, lack of equal opportuni-

ties, discrimination or exclusion from the

labour market.


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Norwa and the EU are working together in the battle

against global warming and share the ambition of limiting

the increase in global average temperature to no more than

two degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

Norway is fully integrated into the EU Emissions Trading

Scheme. Moreover, Norwa participates in working groups

on the development of climate change policy instruments

in the European Commission. There are also meetings at

political level on a regular basis.

Norwa wholl supports EU eorts on carbon capture and

storage (CCS). Norwa has been successfull storing CO2

in a geological formation under the Sleipner gas eld on

the Norwegian continental shelf for more than 14 years. A

test centre and a full-scale CO2 capture facility are being

planned at the gas-red power plant at Mongstad on the

west coast of Norway. Furthermore, as part of Norway’s

contribution to the EEA Financial Mechanisms, Norway has

earmarked € 160 million over ve ears for CCS projects in

selected EU member states.

Norway is a seafaring nation, with much of its population

living along the coast and depending on the sea (sheries and

petroleum as well as shipping). Norway and the European

Union therefore share the ambition of maintaining the world-

leading position and competitiveness of European maritime

industries.

An integrated approach to ocean management and maritime

aairs, as represented b the EU Maritime Polic, is in line

with Norwegian thinking and polic. The European Union’s

Integrated Maritime Policy was launched in December 2007.

Norwa cooperates closel with the EU in this eld. New EU

legislation in this area may apply to Norway through the EEA

Agreement.

Climate change Maritime Affairs

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All Norwegian ministries are represented

at the Mission, illustrating the broad scope

of Norway’s relations with the EU. The

Mission has a sta of around 60, of which

two thirds are diplomats.

The Mission’s website in English,

www.eu-norway.org, provides general

news and background information about

Norway’s relations with the EU and fact

sheets on a range of policy areas. Annu-

ally the Mission receives around 6 500

visitors, ranging from school classes and

student groups to business delegationsand parliamentary committees.

10 Mission of Norway to the EU

The Mission of Norway to the European Union plays an essential role

in the development and implementation of Norway’s policy on Europe.

The Mission is also an important centre of expertise on EU and EEA aairs

for the Norwegian public administration.

Some of the Mission’s main tasks are:

• To gather information from the Commission, the Council of the European Union,

the European Council, the European Parliament and the European External

Action Service (EEAS) on the development of EU polic in areas that are important

to Norwa, particularl areas that are relevant to the internal market, at the

earliest stage possible.

• To promote policies and positions of the Norwegian Government vis-à-vis the EU.

• To work closel with the EFTA Secretariat and the EFTA Surveillance Authorit onthe administration and implementation of the EEA Agreement.

• To identif issues relating to the EEA and Schengen cooperation that are of political

or economic importance to Norway.

• To safeguard Norwegian interests in negotiations with the Commission, the EEAS

and the Council in areas covered b the EEA and Schengen Agreements.

• To work closel with the EU institutions on the further development of the

Common Foreign and Securit Polic and the Common Securit and Defence Polic.

• To improve knowledge and awareness about EU/EEA issues through an open andtransparent approach towards the media, visitors to Brussels and others.

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Norwegian Ministr of Foreign Aairs: www.mfa.no

Information from the Government and the Ministries: www.government.no

The Mission of Norwa to the EU: www.eu-norway.org

Norwa – the ocial site: www.norway.info

The ocial travel guide to Norwa: www.visitnorway.com

Gatewa to the public sector in Norwa: www.norway.no

Statistics Norwa: www.ssb.no/english

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA): www.efta.int

More information about Norway

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EEA-EFTA: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein

EU

EFTA: Switzerland

Switzerland

Liechtenstein

Norway

Iceland


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Published by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Aairs

Publication number: E-883

ISBN: 978-82-7177-863-7

Design and illustration: Gjerholm Design

Printed by: RK Grask AS - 06/2011 revised edition

Impression: 10 000

norway and the eu 2011

Documents